Feb. 8, 2007
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Former Vanderbilt Tennis player Kyle Porter died early last week in a car accident at the age of 27.
Porter played with the Commodores in 1998 and 1999 before leaving to pursue a career in professional tennis. As a freshman and sophomore Porter played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with Eddie Coates, who later became Vanderbilt’s interim head coach.
“It is just such sad news and we all miss him,” Coates said. “Kyle was a great guy and a wonderful person. He was probably one of the most talented ever to play tennis at Vandy. I love Vanderbilt athletics and I know he did to.”
Porter is survived by his mother, Doris, and his father, Ron, who is the NFL Alumni President of South Florida. Porter also has a younger brother, Derek, who recently graduated from UNC where he served as tennis team captain.
Services were held Sunday, January 28 in Miami Lakes, Florida.
If you would like to make a donation in Kyle’s memory, the favorite charity of the Porter family is Here’s Help, Inc., 15100 NW 27th Avenue Opa Locka, Fla. 33054.
